Spelman College And Ford Launch Initiative For First-Generation College Students

“Ford Motor Company’s partnership with us in the Ford First Gen program brings a comprehensive, innovative and collaborative approach that exemplifies an important part of ‘the Spelman Promise’ – ensuring that every Spelmanite graduates with a competitive edge,” says Mary Schmidt Campbell, President, Spelman College.

In an effort to increase the representation of Black first-generation college students at Spelman College, the institution has teamed up with Ford Motor Company for the creation of a new initiative, the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education reported.

Dubbed Ford First Gen, the program is designed to help aspiring college students overcome socio-economic barriers that prevent them from furthering their education, the news outlet writes. Through the initiative, participants will be able to take advantage of services and resources that will ensure their personal, academic, and professional success; including being mentored by students who are in their junior year at Spelman. After going through the program, students will have the opportunity to mentor those who are following in their footsteps. Mentors will be awarded $10,000 towards their tuition.

Under the program, there will be seminars hosted related to career development and goal setting, trips that will give participants the opportunity to interact with individuals who are making moves in industries that they aspire to pursue careers, and students will also be aligned with summer internships to build upon their professional experiences.

Mary Schmidt Campbell, President, Spelman College, is excited about the partnership with Ford Motor Company and believes that the program will be nothing short of impactful. “Ford Motor Company’s partnership with us in the Ford First Gen program brings a comprehensive, innovative and collaborative approach that exemplifies an important part of ‘the Spelman Promise’ – ensuring that every Spelmanite graduates with a competitive edge,” she said in a statement, according to the news outlet. Ford is looking forward to helping students of color overcome barriers to education. “Ford First Gen is a unique approach to helping break down barriers to success that are sometimes faced by first-generation students,” Pamela Alexander, Director of Community Development at Ford Motor Company Fund told Diverse Issues in Higher Education. “We are very excited about the opportunity we have to impact students’ lives through the mentorship, education and cultural experiences that Ford First Gen will offer, and given Spelman’s rich legacy of success, we could not ask for a better partner for this program.”

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Bernard Giudicelli, the French Tennis Federation chief announced a dress code for the 2019 French Open, which includes outlawing Serena Williams catsuit. Makes perfect sense for a fat, bald, aging man to be making fashion decisions for elite athletes. #FrenchOpen#SerenaWilliamspic.twitter.com/VDQyQmv4ln

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The idea that Serena Williams' catsuit signals she doesn't respect the game of tennis is ridiculous for a number reasons, but especially because her catsuit wasn't unprecedented. Anne White wore a catsuit back in 1985 at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/ekAzc9k1De

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During the French Open I saw many White players who were nearly naked, but Bernard Giudicelli decides Serena Williams' catsuit was disrespectful?!?! What would powerful White people do if they didn't spend so much time policing Blackness? He is being disrespectful! pic.twitter.com/dHRBo5vShA

5.

"You have to respect the game and the place." 1. Didn't Anne White wear a white catsuit during Wimbledon? 2. If a white woman champion wore the same outfit, would he have said anything? (Yes, I'm going there.) 3. All the women players should boycott until Serena gets an apology.

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I don’t get this thing of Serena’s catsuit being deemed inappropriate for the French Open. All the women in professional tennis wear tiny, “revealing” clothes but the catsuit is inappropriate? You absolutely cannot convince me that this is anything other than misogynoir.

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It's no coincidence that Serena Williams is being dress coded at the same time black kids are being pushed out of school because of their hair. It's not the catsuit or the hair that's the problem. It's the anti-blackness.

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12. Even Shonda Rhimes Was Not Here For It...

The game seems quite content to be played no matter what women wear. Perhaps this man should focus on his own fashion choices and respect the GOAT's rights to wear whatever the hell she pleases. #getoffhercourthttps://t.co/sS7QcyJp3y

Continue reading Twitter Is Outraged After The French Open Bans Serena’s Catsuit: ‘You Have To Respect The Game’

Twitter Is Outraged After The French Open Bans Serena's Catsuit: 'You Have To Respect The Game'

In today's trifling news, the French Tennis Federation president, 60-year-old Bernard Giudicelli, has banned Serena Williams' catsuit from the French Open.
Giudicelli said in an interview with Tennis Magazine's 500th edition, "I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena’s outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place."
Twitter is obviously outraged by the decision, which is clearly racism and sexism. See the reactions below: